Surprise! The Impossible is Possible! (Easter Day C)
- Guillermo Arboleda
- Apr 20
- 5 min read
A sermon by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, written for and delivered at All Saints' Episcopal Church, Tybee Island, GA, on Sunday, April 20, 2025, which is Easter Day (RCL Year C).
Primary Bible Reading
John 20:1-18 (CEB)
20:1 Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.” 3 Peter and the other disciple left to go to the tomb. 4 They were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb. 5 Bending down to take a look, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Following him, Simon Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 He also saw the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. It wasn’t with the other clothes but was folded up in its own place. 8 Then the other disciple, the one who arrived at the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 They didn’t yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. 11 Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. 13 The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 14 As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.
Surprise! The Impossible is Possible!
By the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Program Manager for New Starts, ELCA
What is the best surprise you have ever had? Was it an amazing birthday or Christmas gift? Did you ever get a much better grade than you expected? Did you get a visit from someone you love?
My wife once threw me a surprise birthday party, and she really got me! It was during the early days of the COVID pandemic, when we were still mostly stuck at home and nobody was able to travel. It was a time when I hadn’t seen many family and friends in a long time, and I still was not sure when I’d be able to see them in person again. But she put together a surprise Zoom birthday party. So even though we couldn’t go anywhere, we were all still able to be together and share a joyful evening. During a really difficult time, I felt so encouraged that people from many places came together to celebrate me. Something that seemed impossible (seeing my loved ones from far away) suddenly and surprisingly became possible!
Easter Day is about a surprise that leaves my little story in the dust. It’s a surprise birthday party cranked up to 11. Because the thing that seemed impossible was death. And everybody knows that death is the end. Death is final. Death has the last word. If you’ve ever lost someone you love, you know grief and hopelessness. You know what it’s like to feel and know that you won’t be able to see that person again, to hug that person again. Because coming back from the dead is impossible… right?
That’s how Mary Magdalene and her friends felt a couple of days after watching Jesus, their Teacher, Lord, and Friend, die the most horrible death. This was the worst weekend of their lives. Sure, they had been around death before. They have mourned loved ones before. But this was worse on every level. Mary and her friends had flocked to Jesus because he radiated love and wisdom. They wanted to learn from him and be like him; when they were with him they felt God’s presence in a way they couldn’t explain. As another disciple said, “We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). He didn’t deserve to die. And he definitely didn’t deserve to die in such a painful and humiliating way. Yes, Mary was sad about her friend’s death. But more than that, her hopes were crushed.
But Mary Magdalene was faithful. She did what she was supposed to do to honor the memory of her friend. Jesus was killed so close to the start of the holy Passover Sabbath that nobody had finished the standard burial process. They just put him in a tomb. So Mary and her companions went to the tomb early on Sunday to finish the rituals.
But that’s when the impossible stuff started happening. They arrived at the tomb and the giant stone door was rolled away. Peter and John confirmed that Jesus’ body was gone and the mummy cloths they used to wrap him were left behind. Then Mary broke down into tears. This was just one step too far. After all Jesus had suffered, someone stole his body to disrespect it? That level of cruelty is hurtful, but possible. There’s no way something impossible happened.
Twice, strangers see Mary crying and ask her what’s wrong. Twice she said that she is looking for her dead Lord Jesus’ body. Did you see who carried him away? But then, Surprise! She hears someone call her name, “Mary!” One beautiful Bible paraphrase puts the rest of the story like this (Mariko Clark and Rachel Eleanor, The Book of Belonging: Bible Stories for Kind & Contemplative Kids (New York: Convergent Books, 2024), 252-253):
"Mary!" came the voice again, and this time she knew. Is there a better feeling in the world than someone you love calling your name? Gladness filled her from head to toe as she shouted out, "My teacher!" and flung herself at Jesus. Because of course it was Jesus. Of course he was alive. It had seemed impossible, but if her good teacher had taught her anything, it was that nothing is impossible with God. Mary clung to her friend. The bad dream was over, and Jesus's aliveness made all her other fears and worries slide away like shadows being chased off by sunshine. Death was not the end. What other impossible things were possible? The sun rose and the birds trilled and Jesus laughed "It's time to let go, Mary! Go and tell my friends that I'm alive!”
If you are facing a challenge that seems impossible today, you are not alone. If fear has overwhelmed you, you are not alone. If you have run out of hope, you are not alone. God is greater than it all. Jesus Christ was dead, but now he is alive! Death is not the end! God can and will give us new life! That means that nothing is impossible for God. Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Surprise! Amen.
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